Combination reading stand and utility table



N. MIOTKE 3,393,649

COMBINATION READING STAND AND UTILITY TABLE July 23, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 10, 1967 FIG'Z mvEniToR NORBERT MIOTKE I AT ORNEY United States Patent Office 3,393,649 Patented July 23, 1968 3,393,649 COMBINATION READING STAND AND UTILITY TABLE Norbert Miotke, 3083 Lakewood Ave., Detroit, Mich. 48215 Filed Aug. 10, 1967, Ser. No. 659,692 3 Claims. (Cl. 108-147) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A combination reading stand and utility table compris ing a tiltable flat member supported on an adjustable leg mounted on a movable pedestal, and having a self-storing auxiliary leg for providing additional support for the fiat member when it is in a horizontal position.

Background of the invention This invention relates to stands generally, and more particularly to an adjustable reading stand, which may be readily adapted for use as a utility table. Most such devices now in use for holdably supporting books, magazines, and other printed materials, are special purpose units, and not designed for universal use. Consequently, music racks, dictionary stands, bed trays, snack tables, etc. all constitute separate items of furniture.

Summary of the invention This invention comprises a castered pedestal supporting a leg the length of which may be readily adjusted within pre-established limits. A rectangular flat member is tiltably mounted on the adjustable leg, and provided on the two longer sides with a retractable support strip disposed thereto at substantially right angles. A jointed self-storing auxiliary leg provides additional support for the flat member when the device is being used as a table.

Brief description of the drawing FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the applicants combination stand and table showing the flat member 66 in a tilted position.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section view, taken substantially on plane 22 in FIGURE 1, showing the jointed detachable auxiliary leg 20 supporting the flat member 66 in a horizontal position.

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal section view, taken substantially on plane 33 in FIGURE 2, showing the support arm 52 on the lower side of the flat member 66.

FIGURE 4 is a bottom view, taken substantially on plane 44 in FIGURE 2, showing the two components of the jointed detachable auxiliary leg 20 stored under the pedestal 10.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged elevation view, taken substantially on plane 55 in FIGURE 3, showing structural details of the retractable support strip 74 on the fiat member 66.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section view, similar to FIGURE 2, showing structural details of the adjustable leg 20 and the extended position of the slidable sleeve 34.

FIGURE 7 is a vertical section view, taken substantially on plane 7--7 in FIGURE 4, showing the retainer clips 18 holdably engaging the components of the jointed detachable auxiliary leg 20.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Construction For a more detailed description of the invention, reference is made to the drawing in which numeral 10 designates a T-shaped pedestalhavingtherearound a protective bumper strip 12, and movably supported on casters 14. Elongated members 16 are attached to the lower side of the pedestal 10 to increase its strength and rigidity. Spaced retainer clips 18, on the bottom of the pedestal 10, releasably hold the two components of a jointed detachable auxiliary leg 20. An upright adjustable leg 22 is swivelly attached to the pedestal 10 by a bolt 24.

The adjustable leg 22 comprises a tubular member 26 having therein a longitudinal slot 28, and a stationary plug 30 having a threaded axial opening 32. A slidable sleeve 34, on the tubular member 26, carries a transverse screw 36 projecting into the longitudinal slot 28. A plug 40, fixed in the upper end of the slidable sleeve 34, has a central opening 42 therethrough communicating with a transverse threaded opening 44 through the plug 40 and the slidable sleeve 34. A drive screw 46, in the adjustable leg 22, has a knurled head 48 on the upper end, and an annular recess 50 therearound adjacent the head 48.

The drive screw 46 is engaged in the threaded axial opening 32 of the stationary plug 30 in the tubular member 26. A support arm 52 has an enlarged section 54 on the outer end and a plug 56 in the other end with an axial opening 58 therethrough. An attachment screw 60, extending through the plug 56 and a spacer member 62 is engaged in the threaded transverse opening 44 in the plug 40 and the slidable sleeve 34. A projection 64 on the attachment screw 60 extends into the annular recess 50 on the drive screw 46.

A rectangular flat member 66 is attached to the enlarged section 54 of the support arm 52 by screws 68. A flange 70 on the lower side of the flat member 66 has therein a socket 72 for holdably receiving the jointed detachable auxiliary leg 20, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. A support strip 74 is slidably mounted on each of the two longer sides of the rectangular flat member 66 by two pins 76 engaged in semi-circular openings 78. An enlargement 80, in each end of the semi-circular opening 78 enables the support strip 74 to be secured in either an advanced or retracted position, as shown in FIGURE 5.

The preceding discussion completes a description of the structural details of the applicants invention; however, to facilitate a more thorough and comprehensive understanding of the subject matter herein presented, a discussion is next directed to the manner in which the device operates and is used to perform its intended function as a reading stand and table.

Operation and use When it is intended to use the applicants device as a reading stand, it is rolled to the selected location, and adjusted to a proper height by turning the knurled head 48 on the drive screw 46. If it is desired to elevate the support arm 52, the drive screw 46 is turned out of the plug 30 in the tubular member 26. This upward travel of the drive screw 46 causes the projection 64 on the attachment screw 60 to engage the lower shoulder on the annular recess 50, as shown in FIGURE 6.

The slidable sleeve 34 is thereby moved upward on the tubular member 26, elevating the flat member 66. The limits of travel for the slidable sleeve 34 are established by the transverse screw 36 in conjunction with the longitudinal slot 28 in the tubular member 26. When the lateral arm 52 has been properly positioned, the flat member 66 is tilted to the desired angle. The support strip 74 is then elevated to the broken line position 82, shown in FIGURE 5 and released, whereupon the pins 76 holdably engage in the enlargements 80 of the semi-circular openings 78.

In practice, the adjustable leg 22 may be swiveled on the pedestal 10 to better position the flat member 66 for convenient viewing, but only within limits which will not destroy the lateral stability of the unit. A newspaper, book, or other printed material may then be placed on the stand for reading. If it is desired to convert the applicants device to a table, the support strip 74 is lowered to the full line position shown in FIGURE 5, and the flat member 66 placed in a horizontal position as illustrated in FIGURE 2. The jointed detachable auxiliary leg 20 is then removed from the retainer clips 18 under the pedestal 10, and inserted into the socket 72 of the flange 70.

Based upon the foregoing discussion, the applicant is of the opinion that his invention has fulfilled a long-felt need in the field of reading stands and utility tables generally, and that he has accordingly made a valuable contribution to the related art. However, while the invention was described with reference to the structural details of a single embodiment, it will be appreciated by those familiar with the art that the principles involved are susceptable of numerous other practical adaptations.

I therefore claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A combination reading stand and utility table comprising a pedestal, an upright tubular member on the pedestal, a slidable sleeve on the tubular member, a stationary plug in the upright tubular member, an axially disposed drive screw in the sleeve threadably engaged in the stationary plug and having therearound an annular recess, a laterally disposed support arm, a flat member on the support arm, an attachment screw adjustably connecting the support arm to the slidable sleeve, and a projection on the attachment screw extending into the annular 4 a recess on the drive screw so as to shift the sleeve and move the flat member as the drive screw is turned in the stationary plug.

2. The combination reading stand and utility table of claim 1 having in addition thereto a support strip along one edge of the flat member having therein spaced semicircular openings, and pins in the flat member extending through the semicircular openings adjustably supporting the support strip so that it may be selectively shifted above the plane of the flat member.

3. The combination reading stand and utility table of claim 1 having in addition thereto a socket in the lower side of the flat member, a detachable leg in the socket, and means on the pedestal for holdabl-y receiving the detachable leg when it is removed from the socket.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,314,060 8/ 1919 Hagerstr-om 10827 1,598,569 8/ 1926 Pitzhug-h l0849 1,653,657 12/ 1927 Pretsch 108141 2,531,925 11/1950 Taylor 108-147 2,808,303 10/ 1957 Frank 108-147 2,833,608 5/1958 Tobias l08--44 3,118,705 1/ 1964 Stainacke 297-346 3,207,099 9/1965 Black et al. 10 8--141 3,246,612 4/1966 Ballas 108-6 BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner.

G. O. FINCH, Assistant Examiner. 

